Died On This Date (June 25, 2012) John Koko / Popular Hawaiian Musician
themusicsover John Kapulani Koko
August 24, 1960 – June 25, 2012
John Koko was a stand-up bassist who is best remembered for his many years playing in the popular Hawaiian trio, Makaha Sons. Raised in Oahu, Koko began performing live as far back as the age of 12. Koko started with the Makaha Sons (then, the Makaha Sons of Niihau) during the mid ’70s. They eventually shortened their name and went on to help popularize Hawaiian music throughout the world while picking up several prestigious awards along the way. With the group, Koko had the opportunity to play Carnegie Hall twice and perform for President Bill Clinton. Suffering from heart related issues, John Koko passed away on June 25, 2012. He was 51.
Jeff Sugarman was the founding bassist for popular Boston-area garage band, the Prime Movers. Formed in 1981, the band, with their Who and Kinks influenced beat, built a sizable following throughout the northeastern states. In 1984, they released their Matters of Time EP on Throbbing Lobster Records and found their cult status rising across the country. The Prime Movers disbanded in 1987, but reunited in 1995, and again, more permanently, in 2003. Remarkably, it wasn’t until 2006, that they released their debut full length album, Back In Line. Outside of the Prime Movers, Sugarman also played in local bands, the Strangemen and the Slaves. Jeff Sugarman died of cancer on June 21, 2012.
Scott Johnson was a respected stage manager and drum tech who, over the course of his career worked with several British bands including Keane, White Lies, and most recently, Radiohead. On June 16, 2012, while he was working as Radiohead’s drum tech, Johnson was reportedly on their stage as it was being set up for a show in Toronto, Canada. In what appeared to have been an accident, Johnson was struck and killed when the top portion of the stage collapsed and fell on him. Initial reports indicated that three others were injured in the collapse as well. Scott Johnson was 33 when he died from his injuries.
Abram Wilson was a respected New Orleans raised jazz musician and singer. Just nine years old when he first picked up the trumpet, Wilson received his education at the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts and later, Ohio Wesleyan University. He rounded out his musical training at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. After graduation, Wilson formed his first band of note, the Abram Wilson Quintet who performed with Roy Hargrove and appeared on record with 
Bob Welch was a Los Angeles singer-songwriter who is perhaps best known for his three years in Fleetwood Mac as well as for his solo releases of the 1970s. Raised in a show business family, Welch first learned to play the clarinet as a child, but by his early teens he had moved on to the guitar. After some time at UCLA, he joined a vocal group, the Seven Souls, as their guitarist. In 1967, they recorded a single, “I’m No Stranger,” for Okeh Records . Although the record didn’t sell much initially, its b-side, “I Still Love You,” became a valuable Northern Soul collectible in later years. After the group broke up in 1969, Welch played around with other outfits until joining Fleetwood Mac in 1971. Primarily a British blues act at the time, Fleetwood Mac began to evolve into a hit-making rock band thanks in part to Welch’s strong sense of melody. Their albums with Welch were much different from what they were previously known for – and that was not a bad thing. Mystery To Me, released in 1973, was arguably the best of the Welch era. Although not a big-seller, the album’s “Hypnotized” became an FM staple and probably the most recognizable Fleetwood Mac song until the later releases with Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham. In 1974, Welch parted ways with the band in order to further his solo career. And with the release of 1977’s French Kiss, there was no denying that he was a star. The album went on to sell more than a million copies thanks to such hits as “Ebony Eyes” and a re-record of Fleetwood Mac’s “Sentimental Lady” which cracked the Top 10 on the US charts. He followed that up about 15 months later with the gold-selling Three Hearts. He continued to release albums and tour well into the 2000s. Bob Welch was 66 when he reportedly took his own life on June 7, 2012. He had been suffering from health related issues prior to his death.